# Carve

> A powerful, sweeping turn on the rail that throws water and changes direction.

**What "carve" means in surfing:** A powerful, sweeping turn on the rail that throws water and changes direction.

**Example:** "Lay down a big carve on the open face."

**Also said:** Carving

**Category:** Riding

## Related words

- [Bottom turn](https://surfslang.com/bottom-turn): The turn at the bottom of the wave after the drop.
- [Cutback](https://surfslang.com/cutback): A turn back towards the breaking part of the wave, used to stay close to the power when you've ridden too far onto the shoulder.
- [Rail](https://surfslang.com/rail): The edge of a surfboard.
- [Bogging](https://surfslang.com/bogging): When a rail catches or a turn gets bogged down in the water and you lose speed.

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Source: [Carve](https://surfslang.com/carve) on Surfslang.com, the surf slang glossary. Full glossary: https://surfslang.com/llms.txt